This is a reprint of the EPA Region 10 Building On Brownfield’s Newsletter

Portland program pulls in another $580,000, Building relationships, sticking to goals key to success

With more than $2 million in EPA assessment and clean-up grants earned since 1996, the City of Portland’s Brownfields Program has grown to become a strong player in the brownfields arena, both at home in Region 10 and in the nation.

Most recently, EPA awarded the city three brownfields grants–two for assessment and another for cleanup–for a total of $580,000. The city was one of the first recipients of a brownfields grant from EPA and has consistently earned funding ever since, says Clark Henry, the city’s program manager since 2001.

Henry admits that when it comes to applying for EPA funding, the Portland Brownfields Program has some luxuries other smaller communities don’t. This past year, the program hired its second full-time employee. The city also has people dedicated to various aspects of the program, including the environmental and financial sides. And it has a professional grant-writing staff.

Portland also has more sites to spotlight as successes. When looking at a pool of 600 brownfields, it’s easier to choose 10 that would attract federal tax dollar support, Henry says. And the city continues to nurture a healthy real estate market, which encourages property owners to move forward in redevelopment.

However, there are also some things the program does well to attract federal dollars, Henry says. In 10 years the program has never strayed from its goals. The program has stayed focused on smaller infill sites that have been ignored, which ties in with a key aspect of EPA’s national brownfield initiative: environmental justice and equity within communities that may have historically suffered from the loss of commerce because of environmental concerns.

Portland has also built government, business and community-supported relationships that foster brownfield restoration and reuse. Public and private partnerships within Portland have cleaned up and renewed hundreds of acres of contaminated property and created thousands of jobs, while promoting economic development, greenspace and human health. The city has even rallied political leadership behind the program. Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams is a staunch supporter of the brownfields program and well versed in its issues.

Part of Portland’s success comes from Henry’s willingness to help others, says Miranda Bateschell, associate regional planner for Portland Metro. “He builds those relationships and partnerships you need to do this work,” she says. “I think having that network really helps.”

Henry has provided technical assistance to professionals from across the country who have called looking for a shoulder to lean on. He and the Portland Brownfields Program have been an invaluable source of advice for Portland Metro, says Bateschell. Henry, who’s on the Metro’s brownfields task force, has offered advice on everything from setting up workshops to selecting consultants. “I’ll just call him and say, ‘This is my problem, what do you think?’” she says.

Henry encourages other communities to contact their state and federal agencies and get to know the leaders in their programs. Seek out others who have successful programs, and inform your congressional delegation of your activities and concerns, he says.

Henry’s vision for the future of Portland’s brownfields program includes weaning it off EPA grants to be more self-sufficient. This summer, the city will unveil a pilot program that provides cleanup money to developers. That money will be reimbursed to the city once a property is sold.

As the Portland program has grown over the past decade, Henry has enjoyed watching brownfields become thought of as one of the city’s essential services. “I like to think we’re a leader,” Henry says. “We’re putting our money where it’s needed the most.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 2:52 pm and is filed under ●Brownfields Success Stories.

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